Mayor Michael Gonnelli announced at a May 13 council meeting that the town is committed to dedicating a life-size statue of Mahatma Gandhi later this month. According to the mayor, negative feedback he heard included someone accusing officials of next wanting to change the name of Secaucus to something that would better suit the local Indian community, which, according to recent census data, makes up about 11 percent of the town’s population.

The anti-Indian bias is scary. Gandhi promoted truth and peace while inspiring civil-rights icons like Martin Luther King Jr.

The objection can’t be over the use of public funds. The statue was donated by a Secaucus family.

Location can’t be the issue. It will be placed at the entrance of the Sadhu Vaswani Meditation Garden behind the recreation center, which the mayor helped develop a few years ago to give residents a place to relax and reflect.

Gandhi spent his life promoting the belief that people of all backgrounds could live together in harmony no matter their religious or ethnic difference. That seems very appropriate for people to think about at a meditation garden.

Even if officials wanted to use the center of the business district, it would be hard to grasp why honoring such an individual would cause agitation.

"Some people have a really tough time looking past color," Gonnelli said during the meeting. He’s right.

All the talk from pundits about America being post-racial now that we have an African-American president proves we’re not actually there yet if we’re trying to claim it’s so. This is another reminder that the celebration of someone different can be greatly discomforting to people.

The crowd at the council meeting cheered loudly when Gonnelli announced he would "do what’s right." So while our society obviously has a long way to go, it’s encouraging to see that show of support for peace and unity.